By Naeisha Rose

Two Queens NYPD officers were honored last week for their contributions to helping the city’s most vulnerable animals at the third annual Appreciation Luncheon held by ASPCA, a non-profit dedicated to preventing animal cruelty.

Sgt. Wendell Seymour of Patrol Borough Queens North, which is in Flushing, and Detective Marique Monzert of the 105th Precinct, located in Queens Village, were among the 17 people honored for preventing, investigating and prosecuting cases of animal cruelty and neglect in 2017, according to ASPCA spokeswoman Emma Dickson.

“The 17 men and women we’re honoring today were champions this year for animals across New York City,” said Howard Lawrence, vice president of ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement at the Dec. 12 event. “They helped engage their colleagues and citizens in concrete ways to combat animal cruelty and were instrumental in building more actively engaged, safe, and humane communities.”

Seymour was recognized for his dedication and assistance to the NYPD/ASPCA partnership by supervising all liaisons in Patrol Borough Queens North Precincts, where he ensured all animal complaints reported to the command were thoroughly investigated, according to the non-profit.

Seymour also played a crucial role in growing the NYPD/ASPCA partnership in Queens precincts by providing animal cruelty-related training to supervisors, police officers, and newly assigned members of Queens North, according to Dickson.

He also implemented ongoing training to all precinct sergeants to distribute to their own commands, said Dickson.

Monzert, the 105th Precinct’s animal liaison officer, was consistently dedicated to all animal-related issues whether on duty or off, according to the ASPCA.

She assisted her fellow officers, ASPCA liaisons and community engagement coordinators by responding to animal welfare concerns that arose in her community, the non-profit said.

As a result of Monzert’s efforts, numerous investigations have been concluded that resulted in the removal of animal cruelty victims from unsafe situations, said Dickson.

She engaged with animal welfare issues through her recent maternity leave and recently returned to being a resource for the 105th Precinct, according to ASPCA.

Since January 2014 the NYPD and the ASPCA has teamed up citywide to address issues of animal cruelty and have worked on helping more than 2,500 animals since their partnership was formed, said Dickson.

Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4573.